Locked-seam-can-body machine.



` No. 818,109. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

J. H. MOELRQY.

LOGKED SEAM CAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. l1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 818,109. PATBNTED APR. 17, 1906. .1. H. MOBLROY.

LOGKED SRAM GAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1902. i

4 HBETS*SH 1 f@ LQ 110.018,100. 1211131111131) APR. 17, 1900. J. H.10031111011. LOGKED SRAM GAN 15101111011011111111.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3` No. 818,109. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. J. H. MCELROY.

LOGKED SEAM CAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLBD JUNI: 7, 1902.

'UNITED STATES PATENT orrin. Y

LooKED-SEAlvl-CAN-BODY MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed June 7, 1902. Serial No. 110,626.

To @ZZ whom t may oon/cern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN HOWARD MGEL- ROY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLocked-Seam-Can- Body Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is Iconcerned with certain new and useful improvements inlocked-seamcan-body machines of the general type shown in my applicationSerial No. 101,838, filed April 7, 1902, and is designed to improve andsimplify such machines, so as to enable them to be o erated at a higherrate of speed and with ess internal friction, so that the output can bematerially increased.

My invention is concerned with a mandrel, whether stationary orrotating, provided with a longitudinal groove in which the seam isformed, together` with a pair of tucking members adapted to cooperatetherewith in sequence to form the seam. While it has been customary toemploy a single blade or rib as the tucking member to cooperate with thegroove, I am, so far as I am aware, the first to employ a pair of bladesor ribs with the advantage that by making the ribs of slightly differentshape in cross section throughout their length, as shown, I am enabledto form a more perfect seam, and by omitting a portion of the edge ofthe second blade opposite the tongue I can use my invention tomanufacture key-opening cans.

My invention is further concerned with a novel automatic blank-feedingmechanism which I have shown as attached to and forming a part of myaforesaid lock-seaming machine, but which may be applied to any sort ofmachine to which sheet blanks are fed.

My invention is finally concerned with certain novel combinations ofelements and details of construction adapted for use in canbodymachines, as will be fully described in the following s ecication andspecifically pointed out in t e claims.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto four sheets of drawings, inwhich the same reference characters are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of amachine embodying my invention, with a portion of the horn and theattached soldering mechanism omitted. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of themachine as it would appear in section on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinalsection on the line B B of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail in section on theline C C of Fig. 7. Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of the machineproper in sideelevationwith some of the framework removed and with theblank-feeding mechanism in section on the line D D of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 isa sectional view of a portion of the machine on the line E E of Fig. 1,but on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is another detail on the same scale asFig. 7 of a portion of the machine in end elevation and with theblankfeeding -mechanism removed to show the blank-receiving recess inthe machine. Figs. 9 and 10 are details in section on the lines F F andG G of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail in section on the line I'IH of Fig. 4, showing the parts in the position they are at when thefirst hook is just completed; and Fig. 12 is a similar view, but showingthe parts in the position they assume when the second hook is completedand the can-body is ready to be discharged onto the horn.

The general design of the machine is the same as that shown in myaforesaid application Serial No. 101,838, and the seam-pressingmechanism and mechanism for moving the can along the horn to be solderedis illusvtrated as being exactly the same as that shown in the foregoingapplication; but it will be understood that other mechanism for thesepurposes might be substituted for those shown and employed in connectionwith the novel features of my invention.

The main portion of the framework of the machine consists of thebase-plate 20, from which rise three pillars 21, 22, and 23, which arepreferably connected by the top crosspiece 24. The power is applied tothe heavy belt-wheel 25, which is secured upon the sleeve 26, which hasformed thereon the gearpinion 27, which meshes with the gear-wheel 28.The sleeve 26 is mounted to rotate on the outer end of the shaft 29,which is journaled in the bearings 30 and 31, formed in the pillars 21and 22, respectively, the sleeve 26 being secured in place between theshoulder 32,`formed on the shaft 29, and the collar 33, secured to theend lthereof. The gearwheel 28 is secured on the outer end of theshorter parallel shaft 34, which is mounted to rotate in suitablebearings 35 and 36, formed in the pillars 21 and 22 beneath the bearings30 and 31. Between the bearings 35 and 36 the gear-pinion 37 is securedon the shaft 34 and meshes with a gear-wheel IOO IIO

38, rigidly secured upon the shaft 29. From a consideration of theabove-described gear mechanism it will be seen that power which isapplied to the belt-wheel is transmitted at reduced speed to the shaft34 and is thence in turn transmitted to the shaft 29, which is shown asarranged to make one revolution for every four revolutions of the shaft34, the gear-wheel 38 having four times as many teeth as the pinion 37.The sleeve 26, rotating in the same direction as the shaft 29, althoughat a higher rate of speed, does not create as much friction on saidshaft as it would if the parts were rotating in opposite directions.Secured upon the other end of the shaft 29, between the pillars 22 and23, is the forming wheel or disk 39, which has the elongated hub 40, thecomparatively thin web 41, and the forwardly-extending peripheral flange42, the whole constituting a cup-shaped disk. Secured to the peripheryof the wheel 39 on the opposite side from the flange 42 is thegear-flange 43, which meshes with a gear-pinion 44, secured rigidly toor formed integrally with the can-body-forming cylinder or sleeve 45,the size of the gearwheel or flange 43 and the pinion 44 being soregulated that each revolution of the wheel 39 will cause eightrevolutions of the cylinder 45. To keep the wheel 42 and the cylinder 45in exact alinement, as well as to form an edge-guide for the blanks, Iform on the peripheral flange 42 of the wheel 39 a rib 46, which engagesa oorrespondingly-shaped annular groove or channel 47 formed in thecylinder 45. The cylinder is mounted to y rotate on the stationarybearing-shaft 48,

whichvis secured in suitable bearings 49 and 50, formed in the pillars21 and 22 the necessary distance above the bearings 30 and 31.

Premising that the can-bodies are formed on the cylinder 45 in the samegeneral manner as shown in theaforesaid application,

Serial No. 101,838, the can-bodies with the hooks completed are4 shovedofll of the cylinder 45 at the end of each second revolution by thedischarge-collar 51, Which, as shown in Fig. 9, extends around so muchof the cyl-- inder 45 as is possible without interfering with itscooperation with the wheel 39. The bearing portion of the innerperiphery of the sleeve 51 fits snugly upon the cylinder 45 and hasformed therein the offset 52, which normally rests in the same plane asthe outer edge of the flange 46, so that when the discharge-sleeve 51 isshoved to the right, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the canbodywill be shoved thereby onto the horn 53, which is secured to the end ofthe bearingshaft 48 and supported thereby in the same` manner as fullyshown and described in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 101,838. Toreciprocate the discharge-sleeve 51 at the proper intervals, I connectit by the rods 54 (best shown in Fig. 3) with the ears 55,

formed on the sleeve 56, which has the lugs 57 on either side thereoftaking into, the slightly-elongated slots 58, formed in the ends of thearms or levers 59, connected by the spacing-sleeve and rod 60 and by therock-shaft 61, which is mounted in the elongated bearing 62, formed inthe bearingsleeve 63 on the shaft 29, between the gearwheel 38 and thepillar 22, to which it is attached, as by the screw 64. The lower end ofone of the arms or levers 59 has placed thereon in the plane of theshaft 34 a bearing-pin or antifriction-roller 65, which takes into thecam-groove 66, formed in the camwheel 67, secured upon the shaft 34between the pinion 37 and the bearing 36. The camgroove 66 is so shapedas to give the collar 56, and consequently the sleeve 51, a rapidreciprocation back and forth during a portion of every alternaterevolution of the cylinder 45 and at the proper time to discharge thecan-body therefrom.

The can-body, with the locked seam formed but not pressed, is deliveredonto a horn 53, whence it is carried by the chains 68 through theseam-pressing mechanism, (designated generally by the referencecharacter 69,) which will not be described in detail, as it is the sameas shown in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 101,838. The chains 68are operated by the sprocket-wheels 70, secured on the upper ends of thevertical shafts 71, mounted in the vertical bearing-sleeves 72, forminga part of the bracket 73, which is secured to the pillar 23 between itand the pillar 22. The shafts 71 have the bevel gearpinions 74, securedon the lower ends thereof and meshing with the oppositely-disposed bevelgear-wheels 75, secured on the shaft 76, mounted to rotate in thebearings 77, secured on 'the lower ends of the arms 78, projectingdownward from the bearing-sleeves 72 and forming a part of the bracket73. Motion is given to the shaft 76 by means of a bevel gear-wheel 79,secured on the end of the shaft 29 and meshing with the bevel gearpinion80, secured on the shaft 76. Secured to one end of the shaft 76 is thesprocketwheel 81, which by means of the sprocketchain 82, meshing withthe sprocket-wheel 83, secured on the shaft 84, operates theseam-pressing mechanism in the customary manner and at the proper rateof speed. Of course it` will be understood that the gear mechanism justdescribed serves to operate the chains 68 at the proper rate of speed tobring a pair of the lugs 85 thereon forward at the proper intervals toreceive the can-bodies as they are discharged onto the horn 53 by thesleeve 51 and carry them through the seampressing mechanism and onto thesoldering mechanism, which is not shown.

The forming-cylinder 45 has extending longitudinally thereof from theouter end to the channel 47 a seam-forming groove 86,

ICO

IIO

IZO

which, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, is of l in every respect to theintermediate tuckingthe proper size and shape to receive the edges ofthe tucking-blades S7 and 98, of which there are four pairsequidistantly disposed in the flange 42, which is formed with theenlargements 88 on the inner side thereof` to form the housings for thetucking-blades, the operating edges of which are of the same length asthe width of the fiange 42, the lower portion of which, however, isreduced sufiiciently to permit the fastening of the covering-plates S9on the outer surface of the enlargements S8 to hold the tucking-bladesin place after they have been inserted in the slots 90, formed in theenlargements 38 to receive them. Adjacent to the slot 90 and ruiminginto it, as seen in Fig. 5, is a pair of recesses Q1, which have theirlower ends closed by plugsv 92 and which receive thecorrespondingly-shaped lugs 93 secured to the blades 87 and 98, abovewhich are placed the helicallycoiled expanding-springs 94, which tend tohold the tucking-blades in their lowermost position with their operativeedges either fiush with or below the surface of the flange 42. Theseam-forming groove 86 is placed at a slight angle to the surface of theforming-cylinder 45, and the tucking-blades S7 are set at the sameangle.

Premising that before each of the tuckingblades 87 comes into operativeengagement with the groove 86 ablank 95 has been placed on the flange 42at the right position, it willbe seen that as the disk 39 rotates to theproper position to bring a tucking-blade 37 into engagement with thegroove 86 the lower end of the blade engages with the cam-surface 96,which is formed on the cani-block 97, secured upon the rearwardextension 98a of the bracket 73, s'o that as the groove 86 comesdirectly beneath the axis of the cylinder the operative edge of thefirst tucking-blade 87 of a pair is forced completely into the grooveforming the first hook on the blank, the thickness of the loop of tinand of the edge of the tucking-blade practically filling the groove.Just at the instant the hook is completely formed the end of thetucking-blade passes over the highest point of the cam-block 97 and theblade is forced back by the action of the springs 91 and of the edge ofthe groove 86. The hook-thus formed on the edge of the blank 95 isfastened firmly in the groove S6, so that as the rotation of thecylinder 45 continues the blank 95 is wrapped about the cylinder and anytendency that it might have to spring away from it is prevented bytheedge of the discharge-collar 51, which extends over the blank. At theend of thecomplete rotation of the forming-cylinder 45 the other end ofthe blank 95 extends across the recess 86 just far enough to be pushedinto it by the operating edge of one of the four equidistanttucking-blades 93, constituting the second members of the pairs andwhich correspond blades 87, the 'first members of the pairs, except thatthe operative edge is narrower than the operative edge of atucking-blade 37 by an amount equal to the thickness of the sheet of tinbeing operated on. By the mechanism thus described it will be apparentthat if the blanks are properly fed to the machine there will be fourcomplete can-bodies formed at each revolution of the forming-wheel 39and discharged onto the soldering-horn.

As a means of accurately feeding the blanks with but little care Iprovide the mechanism to be described. Secured upon the side of thepillar 22, as by the cap-screws 99, is a bracket 100, which consists ofthe substantially segmental plate 101, which is shown as extendingthrough something over ninety degrees and which is provided with aforwardly-projecting flange on its upper edge and consists of the shorthorizontal part 102, the vertical part 103, and the circular part 104.The general outlines of the inner surfaces of the parts 103 and 104 varysomewhat for the following purposes: The sheet or blank 95 is intendedto be thrust into the recess formed between the vertical .flange 103 andthe periphery of the flange 42 and upon the horizontal part 102 while itis standing vertically upon one end, and the upper and lower innerportions of the fiange 103, as at 105, are flared outwardly from theinner reduced portion 106, so that the blank 95, which is pushed intothe recess vertically, will be bent by contact with the surfaces 105into a curve corresponding to the curve of the periphery of the flange42, and when thus bent its inner edge will becaught under the reducedportion 106, so that the blank will be carried forward in the curvedposition. To catch the end of the blank and carry it forward, l providein the reduced spaces 107, formed on the surface of the flange 42between the alternate enlargements 88, a pair of leaf-springs 108, whichare slotted at their rear ends, (as seen in Fig. 7 so that they can beadjustably secured by the set-screws 109 in order to bring theirupwardly-turned ends 110 into just the proper position to catch the rearedge of the blank and carry it forward, so that its ends will be inthe'exact position necessary for the formation of the hooks by themechanism previously described. The surface of the reduced portions 107beneath the forward ends of these springs 108 is depressed, forming thechannels 111, into which the main portion of the bodies of the springs108 can sink, as is necessary when the operative ends 110 pass beneaththe cylinder 45, as seen in Fig. 12. The reduced portion 106 of theunder surface of the flange of the bracket 100 extends forward beneaththe portion 104, and the portion 112 of the under surface of the flange104 directly adjacent the vertical portion 103 of the flange is broughtIOO downward at an angle, as shown, so that at 113 the reduced portion106 may be described as extending entirely across the flange. Thechannel formed between the flange 104 and the periphery of the flange 42from 113 to the point where the blank is delivered to the roller 45 is,except for the sockets for the rollers, to be hereinafter mentioned, allreduced, so that the sheet cannot possibly escape from the ends 110 ofthe springs 108, which contact with the under surface of the flange 104,which forms a continuation of the reduced portion 106. By the mechanismthus described it will be seen that if a blank 95 be thrust into therecess in advance of the rising of the operating ends 110 of the springs108 through the recesses 102EL in the flange 102 the blank will becaught by said springs and carried forward to the forming-cylinder 45.

To hold the blank firmly upon the periphery of the cylinder and to keepit exactly in position, I preferably provide a pluralityvofspring-pressed rollers 114, which are liournaled in yokes 115, mountedto slide in suitable recesses 116, formed in the thickened portion 104of the flange of the bracket 100. The yokes 115 have the stems 117extending radially through the brackets 118, projecting from theperiphery of the flange 104, and by interposing the helically-coiledexpandingspring 119 between the top of the bracket 118 and the set-nut120, screwed onto the lower portion of the stem 117, l am enabled tovary the pressure of the wheels or rollers 11.4 on the periphery of theflange 42 to any desired extent. These rollers effectually prevent theblank from bending or buckling as it is being fed to and around thecylinder 45. To insure the blank being fed squarely against the flange46, so that its edges will be exactly square across the line of travelvto make the hooks, I provide the guide-rollers 121, which are preferablymounted on vertical spindles extending downward from the brackets 122,formed on the edge of the flange 104, in position, so that the rollers121 rest practically against the edge of the flange 42 and against theedge of the blank, which is, as above stated, of the same width as theflange 42 outside of the guide-rib 46.

It will be apparent that the sheets may be thrust by hand into theabove-described feeding apparatus but in order to arrange for theautomatic feeding of the sheets, so as to make a higher speed of themachine possible, 1 provide the automatic mechanism best shown in Figs.1 to 3, 6 and 7. Secured to the baseplate 20 is a bracket 123, which hasa comparatively short upwardly extending portion 124, terminating in thebearing-sleeve 125, in which is mounted one end of the short horizontalshaft 126, the other end of which is mounted in a bearing 127, formed onthe forward face of the pillar 23. This shaft 126 has secured thereonthe sprocket-wheel 128, which through the sprocket e chain 129 is drivenby the large sprocket-wheel 130, secured on the shaft 76. The outer endof the shaft 126 has secured thereon the cam-disk 131, which has formedtherein the camgroove 132, cooperating with the bearing pin or roller133, secured in the rocking arm or lever 134, which is pivoted at itslower end on the bearing-stud 135, projecting outwardly from the casting123. The upper end of the lever 134 has the slightly-elongated slot 136therein, through which passes the pin or stud 137, secured to theblank-feeding slide 138, which is mounted to reciprocate horizontally onthe dovetailed bearing -way 139, formed on the otherportion 140 of thebracket 123, which extends vertically upward to a height somewhat abovethe vertical portion 103 of the bracket 100. This delivery-slide 138 isadapted to strike the side edges of the blanks as they are presented toit one by one in a vertical position and to drive them into thereceiving pocket formed in the bracket 100. As will be seen from Fig. 2,the discharge-slide 138, and especially the contacting end thereof, ismade of a plano-concave shape in cross-section, so that as the blanksare curved in passing into the pocket they will not escape from theoperating end of the discharge-slide- The upper portion of the bracket140 is formed with a plurality, preferably four, ofl bearings 141, whichare suitably disposed to receive 'the screw-shafts 142, which havetheirother ends mounted to rotate in the oppositely-disposed bearings 143formed in the companion bracket or side 1.44, which is spaced apart fromand rigidly secured to the bracket 140 by means of the interposedbracket 145 at the bottom thereof and the bar 146 at the top. Thesescrew-rods 142, where four are employed, are so located that theuppermost and lowermost ones engage the tops and bottoms of a bundle ofthe blanks 95 that may be placed in the discharge mechanism, while theintermediate ones engage with the sides of the blanks that are presentedto the feeding-plate 138. These shafts all have the smallsprocket-wheels 147 secured to the inner ends thereof and are allconnected by the sprocket-chain 148, which rotates them in unison in thesame direction, power being conveniently applied to them by theVadditional sprocket-wheel 149, secured to the inner end ofthe lowermostshaft 142 and connected by the sprocket-chain 150 with the drivingsprocket-wheel 151, secured on the outer end of the shaft 7 6. As willbe seen from an examination of Fig. 2, the outer ends of the screwerods142 have the threads formed thereon of a uniform pitch and preferably asnearly as possible of the same number of threads to the inch as thereare sheets of tin in a pile an inch high. It will be apparent that itwould be impossible to feed the blanks IOO one at a time to the machineby the reciprocating slide 138 unless they were separated, and for thispurpose the inner portions of the screw-rods are formed with aconstantly-diminishing number of threads to the inch, so that while theblanks are placed ltherein close together they will be spread apartasthey are carried toward the machine by the rotation of the screw-rods,so that when they reach the discharge-point they will be separated farenough so that the discharge-plate 138 can catch one of the blanks andforce it into the machine and retreat before the adjacent blankinterferes and is presented to the proper point to be operated on inturn. The blanks are placed into the feeding mechanism in bunches at theouter portion thereof, and to hold them in place to be operated on bythe intermediate screws as well as the top and bottom screws I securethe substantially U- shaped'bar 152 to the bracket 145 and thecross-piece 146 and secure on the inner face thereof two or more bars153, having their outer ends beveled slightly to catch the blanks ifthey may be projecting out a little bit and force them inwardly intoengagement with the intermediate screws 142 and hold them in engagementuntil they reach the discharge-point.

By the employment of the feeding mechanism described it will be apparentthat the operator has only to place the sheets or blanks into thefeeding apparatus a bunch at a time and that they will be spread out anddelivered to the machine as rapidly as it can take care of them. By theemployment of this feeding mechanism I make possible a higher rate ofoperation for the machine than can be obtained where the feeding is doneby hand one blank at a time.

While I have shown and describedthe pair of reciprocating tucking-bladesmounted in a rotating cylinder, I contemplate employing blades which donot move relative to the surface of the cylinder or the other membercooperating with the mandrel, and, furthermore, I contemplate employinga pair of tucking-blades cooperating alternately with the seaming-grooveof the mandrel whether said mandrel be rotatable or stationary,irrespective of and apart from the cylinder, so that I do not desire tobe limited to the form shown.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the form which I atpresent consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will beunderstood that it is capable of modifications and that I do notdesire'to be l limited in the interpretation of the following claims,except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-d 1. In a device of the class described, thecombination with the roller having the seaming-groove therein, of thecooperating roller having a pair of tucking-blades therein cooperatingalternately with the seaming-groove, and means for rotating said rollersin synchronism. 7o

2. In a device of the class described7 the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the cooperating roller having apair of tucking-blades therein cooperating alternately with theseaming-groove and havin@` their engaging edges of different sizes forthe purpose described, and means for rotating said rollers insynchronism.

3. In a device of the class described., the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of discharge mechanism for carryingthe can-body off of said roller, the cooperating roller having a pair oftucking-blades therein cooperating alternately with the seaming-groove,a portion of the periphery of the second roller between the blades beingreduced to facilitate the discharge of the cans from the roller, andmeans for rotating said rollers in synchronism.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seam ing-groove therein, of the tucking-blade roller whosecircumference is a multiple of that of the grooved roller, means forrotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, and plural pairsof tucking-blades cooperating with said seaming-groove.

5. In a device of the class described, the` combination with the rollerhaving the seaminggroove therein, of the tucking-blade roller roo whosecircumference is a multiple of that of the grooved roller, means forrotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, plural pairs oftucking-blades cooperating with said seaming-groove, and dischargemechan- 1o 5 ism cooperating with the grooved roller to discharge acan-body therefrom at every second rotation thereof, said tucking-bladeroller having the reduced portions on the periphery thereof located soas to be opposed to the 1 Io grooved roller while the cans are beingdischarged therefrom.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the tucking-blade roller I I 5whose circumference is a multiple of that of the grooved roller,meansfor rotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, pluralpairs of tucking-blades cooperating with said seaming-groove, dischargemechanism coop- 12o erating with the grooved roller to discharge acan-body therefrom at every second rotation thereof, said tucking-bladeroller having the reduced portions on the periphery thereof located soas to be opposed to the grooved roller while the cans are beingdischarged, and fingers .upon the periphery of the tucking blade rolleradapted tol engage with blanks and carry them to the grooved rollerproperly positioned upon the unreduced'por- 13o tion of the periphery ofthe tucking-blade roller. f

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the tucking-blade roller Whosecircumference is a multiple of that of the grooved roller, means forrotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, plural pairs oftucking-blades cooperatinghwith said seaming-groove, discharge mechanismcooperating with the grooved roller to discharge a can-body therefrom atevery second rotation thereof, said tucking-blade roller having thereduced portions on the periphery thereof located so as to be opposed tothe grooved roller While the cans are being discharged, and adjustablemechanism on the periphery of the tucking-blade roller adapted to engagewith the blanks and carry them to the grooved roller properly positionedupon the unreduced portion of the periphery of the tuckingblade roller,said mechanism consisting ofthe radially-extended lingers attached tothe circumferentially expanding and adjustable spring bodies mounted insaid reduced portions of the periphery of the tucking-blade roller abovesuitable depressions therein.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the cooperating tucking-bladeroller carrying a pair of tuckingblades and adapted to receive blanksupon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller, and means forrotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove and the annular channel therein, of thecooperating tucking-blade roller having the flange cooperating with saidannular channel and carrying'a pair of tucking-blades and adapted toreceive blanks upon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller,and means for rotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove and the annular channel therein, of thecooperating tucking-blade roller carrying the pair of tucking-bladesadapted to cooperate With the seaming-groove and having the flange onits periphery cooperating With the annular channel and adapted toreceive blanks upon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller,means for rotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, andmeans for holding a blank against the flange as it is carried to thegrooved roller.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove and the annular channel therein, of thecooperating tucking-blade roller carrying the pair of tucking-bladesadapted to cooperate With the seaming-groove and having l the llange onitsperiphery cooperating with the annular channel and adapted to receiveblanks upon its eriphery and carry them to the grooved rol er, means forrotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, and means forholding a blank against the flange as it is carried to the groovedroller consisting of the pluralityA of rollers journaled4 in the frameso as to bring their peripheries against the edge of the tucking-bladeroller and the blank, the opposite edge of the blank resting against theflange.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove and the annular channel therein, of thecooperating tucking-blade roller carrying the pair of tucking-bladesadapted to cooperate With the seaming-groove and having the flange onits periphery cooperating With the annular channel and adapted toreceive blanks upon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller,means for rotating said rollers at the same peripheral velocity, andmeans for holding a blank against the flange as it is carried to thegrooved roller consisting of the plurality of rollers ournaled in theframe on axes set at acute angles to the periphery of the tucking-bladeroller so as to bring their peripheries against the edge of thetucking-blade-roller periphery and the blank, Jphe opposite edge ofWhich rests against the ange.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the cooperating tucking-bladeroller carrying a pair of tuckingblades and adapted to receive blanksupon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller, and thespring-pressed rollers cooperating with the periphery of thetucking-blade roller to hold the blank firmly in engagement therewith asit is fed to the grooved roller.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the cooperating tucking-bladeroller carrying a pair of tuckingblades and adapted to receive blanksupon its periphery and carry them to the grooved roller, thespring-pressed rollers cooperating With the periphery of thetucking-blade roller to hold the blank firmly in engagement there- Withas it is fed to the grooved roller, and means for adjusting the tensionof the springs.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination With the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the tucking-blade roller carryingapair of tucking-blades and adapted to receive blanks upon its peripheryand carry them to the grooved roller, means for rotating said rollers atthe same'peripheral velocity, a pair of 'lingers projecting from theperiphery of the tucking-blade roller near its edges and just back ofthe'second tucking-blade, and the spring-pressed rollers cooperatingWith the pe- IOO TIO

riphery of the tucking-blade roller between the -fingers to hold theblank in engagement therewith.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-receiving roller, of the shield therefor ad apted to benda blankto the curve of the roller as it is thrust sidewise between said rollerand shield.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-receiving roller, of the shield therefor adapted to bend a blankto the curve of the roller as it is thrust sidewise between said rollerand shield, and fingers on said roller adapted to catch the end of theblank and carry it forward between the shield and the roller.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-receiving roller, of the shield therefor adapted to bend a blankto the curve of the roller as it is thrust between said roller andshield, said shield having its inner surface on substantially the samecurve as the periphery of the blank-receiving roller and extending`closely thereto and having a portion of its outer surface of a lengthequal to a blank on a straight line and curved inwardly to meet thecurved inner portion thereof, and fingers on said roller adapted tocatch the end of the blank and carry it forward between the shield andthe roller substantially as shown and described.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-receiving roller, of the shield therefor adapted to bend a blankto the curve of the roller as it is thrust between said roller andshield, and automatic mechanism for thrusting blanks one by one betweensaid shield and roller.

20. In a device-of the class described, the combination with theblank-receiving roller of the shield therefor adapted to bend a blank tothe curve of the roller as it is thrust between said roller and shield,automatic mechanism for thrusting blanks one by one between said rollerand shield, and means for driving said roller and automatic mechanism insynchronism.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-working mechanism, of a blank-feeding mechanism operating insynchronism therewith and including a plurality of screws of increasingpitch adapted to feed forward and separate the blanks, and means forrotating the screws in unison.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-working mechanism, of a blank-feeding mechanism operating insynchronism therewith and including a plurality of screws of increasingpitch adapted to feed forward and separate the blanks, means forrotating the screws in unison, and a reciprocating plun ger adapted todischarge the blanks one by one fromsaid screws to the blank-workingmechanism after they are separated.

23. In a device of the class described., the combination with theblank-working mechanism, of a blank-feeding mechanism operating insynchronism therewith and comprising a blank-receiving cage open at oneside having screws of increasing pitch in the opposite side ard in thetop and bottom of the cago, means for rotating the screws in unison, anda reciprocating plunger adapted to discharge the blanks one by one fromsaid screws to the blank-working mechanism after they have been.separated.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with theblank-working mechanism., of a blank-feeding mechanism operating insynchronism therewith and including a plurality of screws of increasingpitch adapted to feed forward and separate the blanks, means forrotating the screws in unison, a reciprocating plunger adapted todischarge the blanks one by one from said screws to the blank-workingmechanism after they are separated, a shaft rotating in unison with thescrews, and connections between the shaft and plunger to reciprocate itonce during a portion of each rotation of the screws.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination with astationary journal supported at one end and having the horn secured tothe other end thereof, of the grooved roller journaled thereon, aparallel sh aft carrying the tucking-blade roller in the plane of thegrooved roller, gearing connecting said rollers to compel them to rotateat the same peripheralr velocity, and discharge mechanism coperatingwith the grooved roller at every other rotation thereof.

26. In a device of the class described, the combination with thestationary journal supported at one end and having the horn secured tothe other end thereof, of the grooved roller journaled thereon, aparallel shaft carrying the tucking-blade roller in the plane of thegrooved roller, gearing connecting said rollers to compel them to rotateat the same peripheral velocity, discharge mechanism cooperating withthe grooved roller at every other rotation thereof, a parallelcam-shaft, connections between said cam-shaft and discharge mechanismfor operating the same, and gearing between said shafts for operatingthem at the proper relative speeds.

IOO

IIO

27. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the stationary journal 4S supported at one end, of thegrooved roller 45 journaled thereon, a parallel shaft 29 having thepulley-wheel 25 loosely mounted 'on the outer end thereof and thetucking-blade roller secured on the inner end. thereof in the plane ofthe grooved roller, discharge mechanism reciprocating on the journal 48and cooperating with the grooved roller 45 at every other rotation.thereof, the parallel cam-shaft 34 having the cam thereon, theoperating-lever connecting the cam and the discharge mechanism, and thetrain of gearing substantially as shown and described connecting thepulley-wheel 25 with the shaft 29 through the shaft 34.

28. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the coperating roller having apair of tucking-blad es therein coperating alternately with theseaming-groove, means for operating said tucking-blades, and means forrotating' said rollers in synchronism.

29. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of the cooperating roller having apair of tuclring-blades therein coperating alternately with theseaming-groove and having their engaging edges of di'lierent sizes forthe purpose described, means for operating said tucking-blades, andmeans for rotating said rollers in synchronism.

30. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rollerhaving the seaming-groove therein, of discharge' mechanismA for carryingthe can-body oil or" said roller, the cooperating roller having a pairof tucking -blades therein coperating alternately with theseaming-groove, a portion of the 3l. In a device of the class described,the

combination with the forming-horn having the seaming-groove therein, ofthe pair of tucking members adapted to coperate alternately with thegroove, and means for moving the members to alternately enter thegroove.

32. In a device of the class described, the combination with theforming-horn having the seamingegroove therein., of the pair of tuclingmembers adapted to coperate alternately with the groove and having theirengaging edges oi different iorm, and means for moving the members toalternately enter the groove.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 4th dayof June, 1902, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HOWARD MCELROY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE R. HARBAUGH, ROBERT K. GUsTAFsoN.

